CEBU, Philippines - Defending champion Southwestern University (SWU) and St.Theresa’s College (STC) slammed separate foes to book their semifinal tickets in the Visayas leg of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League Season 11 last night at the Aznar Coliseum.
SWU will go up against pool B's no.2 seed Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School (MCCNHS) at 8 am, followed by STC who will face next University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R).
The losers will then play for the third place at 11 am, while the championship match will start at 1 pm.
SWU drubbed University of San Carlos (USC), 25-19, 19-25, 25-13, sealing the elimination round with an unblemished 4-0 win-loss record in pool A.
While SWU avoided any complications in their path to semis, USC's chance for the Final Four came crashing when they lost to USJ-R later in the day, 25-21, 25-21.
USJ-R ended the elimination round with 3-1, while USC went away with 2-2 as University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) had an unceremonious exit winning only one of its four assignments and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu bowed out with no win.
Competition was stiff in Pool B with the top two squads decided only in the last game between STC and MCCNHS.
MCCNHS bested STC in straight sets, 25-22, 25-23 that paved way to a triple tie together with Pajo National High School with an identical 3-1 record.
The Pajo girls notched their third win following a 25-1, 26-24 victory over Paref-Southcrest School.
Southcrest only had a single point in the first set and it was an all Janzel Bate serving for Pajo when they got their first to 25th point, half of which were ace serves that obviously got her the best player of the game award.
However, all efforts went to nothing when the 12 year-old Bate's team missed the penultimate round by just a point.
Following the rule's option in ties on standings, STC and MCCNHS had garnered nine points while Pajo fell short at eight points. (FREEMAN)